(FILES) In this file photo taken on September 11, 2020 A laboratory technician handles capped vials as part of filling and packaging tests for the large-scale production and supply of the University of Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, AZD1222, conducted on a high-performance aseptic vial filling line on September 11, 2020 at the Italian biologics manufacturing facility of multinational corporation Catalent in Anagni, southeast of Rome. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Wealthy nations have already bought up at least 80% of the future COVID-19 vaccines supply, the Philippines’ vaccine czar said Wednesday.
COVID-19 policy chief implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr., who is also the designated vaccine czar, said developing countries like the Philippines are now scrambling for the remaining supply of the vaccines.
“80% of the global market has been taken by the rich countries. Now we are fighting for the 18% because COVAX has gotten the other (2) percent,” Galvez said during the online Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
He was referring to the COVAX Facility, a global mechanism designed to guarantee rapid, fair, and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide which the Philippines joined in July.
The former military general explained that the deals were made possible by advance market commitments with pharmaceutical companies.
“If we will not do the advance market commitment, we will be at the tail end of the supply chain,” he said.
The Philippine government and private companies signed a supply agreement with British drugmaker AstraZeneca involving at least two million doses of its vaccine last week.
This is after President Rodrigo Duterte finally agreed to make advance commitments and advance payments to private vaccine developers to ensure supply for the Philippines despite expressing reservations in September due to the country’s procurement laws.
Galvez said the government is currently in negotiations with other big pharmaceutical companies for potential vaccine deals.
Aside from AstraZeneca, the government is also looking into the vaccines of China’s Sinovac Biotech, Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute, and Pfizer of the United States.